Glazier given 18 months’ jail for £165,000 tax fraud
8th November 2016

The former owner of a Gloucestershire window and door business who evaded more than £165,000 in VAT and Income Tax has been jailed for 18 months.

An investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) revealed that for seven years John Choppin, 39, owner of Nailsworth Doors and Windows of Stroud, failed to register for or pay VAT, evading £87,191.

He lied on Self Assessment returns to wipe out any Income Tax or National Insurance liability, when he should have paid £49,680 to HMRC. He also failed to complete his tax returns for the 2011 to 2014 tax years, leaving a debt of £28,721.

Colin Spinks, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “John Choppin evaded payment of Income Tax and VAT through a combination of lies and the blatant disregard of UK tax law. It is simply not acceptable to steal from the tax system and, ultimately, honest UK taxpayers and business competitors.

On 30 September at Gloucester Crown Court John Choppin pleaded guilty to the fraudulent evasion of VAT and three counts of Income Tax fraud. He was jailed for 18 months at the same court on 3 November 2016.

1. John Edward CHOPPIN (DOB 31/10/77) had pleaded guilty to:
• the fraudulent evasion of Value Added Tax, contrary to Section 72(1) of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 (May 2007 to April 2014);
• fraud, contrary to sections 1 and 2 of the Fraud Act 2006 (November 2006 to April 2011);
• and two counts of being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of Income Tax, contrary to Section 106a of the Taxes Management Act 1970 (April 2007 to April 2011 and April 2011 to April 2014).

Anyone with information about people or businesses possibly involved in VAT or Income Tax fraud can contact us on 0800 59 5000 or online at https://www.gov.uk/report-vat-fraud